Check for a movable closure



Jan. 25, 1966 1.. SAUER CHECK FOR A MOVABLE CLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 27, 1965 Jan. 25, 1966 s U 3,230,576

CHECK FOR A MOVABLE CLOSURE Filed Sept. 27, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,230,576 CHECK FORA MOVABLE CLOSURE Leo Sauer, St. Joseph, Mich., assignor to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware FiledSept. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 312,161 1 Claim. (Cl. 16-85) This invention relates to a check for a closure movable between open and closed positions with respect to an opening containing member.

This invention finds practical application as a door check for the door of anappliance such as a washer and dryer. The check of this invention not only provides an ultimate stop for holding the door in fully open position but also provides an intermediate check between closed and fully open positions so as to retain the door in this intermediate position. In addition, the check of-this invention provides a frictional drag retarding to door movement at the initial portion of its movement but permits substantially free movement toward the final portion of the door travel.

One of the features of this invention is to provide an improved check for a closure such as a door having the characteristics set out above.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawings. Of the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a laundry appliance having a door check embodying the invention.

FIGURES 2-4 are fragmentary sectional views showing the door of the appliance in closed, intermediate and open positions.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view partially broken away showing the elongated check element of the invention.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional detail view of a section of the element and showing the surrounding structure in elevation.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 but :showing the element in a difierent position.

FIGURES 8l1 are sectional views showing the door and check in different positions between fully closed and fully open. In FIGURE 1 there is illustrated a washer and dryer 20 having a lower hinged door 21 provided on either end with a door check element 22. As shown in FIGURE 5, this element is elongated and at one end is provided with a fiat, enlarged section 23 and immediately forwardly thereof a cylindrical section 24 that has a diameter substantially equal to the minimum thickness of the element 22 and end section 23.

The opposite end of the element 22 is provided with a pair of oppositely extending shoulders 25 forwardly of the extreme end 26. This end 26 is provided with a transverse opening adapted to retain a pin 27.

In a portion of the element 22 adjacent the shoulders 25 and extending for more than 50% of the length of the element toward the opposite end 23 there is provided an elongated slot 28 in the element 22 dividing it into a pair of separate springy side portions 29. These side portions have their opposite sides rounded as indicated at 30.

Within the length of the slot 28 and at an intermediate portion of the length of the element 22, there are provided a pair of oppositely extending contoured engaging means, here shown as shoulders 31. The remaining portion 32 of the element 22 is narrower than either the space between the shoulders 31 or the space between the maximum extent of the rounded sides 30.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the element 22 is essentially fiat and of uniform lateral thickness. The end section 23, shoulders 31, side portions 29, shoulders 25 and pin 27 are essentially coplanar.

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The lower part of the washer and dryer 20 is provided with side flanges 33 defining the sides of the opening that is normally closed by the hinged door 21. The door 21 is in the form of a toe panel and is itself provided with side flanges 34. 7

Each flange 33 at the bottom of the appliance 20 is provided with a vertical rectangular opening 35 which has its major length arranged vertically. Each opening 35 is slightly wider than the cylindrical section 24 of the element 22 but is narrower than the maximum width of the enlarged end section 23. This permits easy installation of the one end of the element 22 as it is only necessary to pass the enlarged end 23 inwardly through the opening 35, as shown in FIGURE 6, and turn the element .22 approximately This end is then locked in position.

The other end is locked in position on the door 21 as shown in FIGURES 8-11. This locking is provided by passing the end 26 of the element 22 through an opening 36 in the door and inserting the pin 27 into this end 26.

The opening 35 in the appliance flange 33 is narrower than the normal undistorted maximum width of the element 22 at the springy side portions 29. This opening 35 is also narrower than the maximum width between the shoulders 31. However, the opening is wider than the maximum lateral width of the portion 32 of the element that is not occupied by the slot 28.

The opening movements of the door 21 and element 22 are shown in series in FIGURES 2-4 and FIGURES 811. In each series the door is moved from closed position, to the intermediate position defined by the shoulders 31 and finally to fully open position.

As shown in FIGURE 8, the door is fully closed. In this position almost the entire length of the elements 22 extend into the appliance 20 through the openings 35. As the door is moved toward open position, as shown in FIGURE 9, the narrowness of the opening 35 compresses the resilient sides 29 of the element to provide a frictional drag resisting the opening of the door.

As shown in FIGURE 10, the engagement of the shoulders 31 with the spaced abutments 37 defining the sides of the opening 35 holds the door 21 in partially open position. Because the contoured shoulders 31 are on opposite sides of the groove 28, the door can easily be opened further by merely applying opening pressure to it. This causes the sides 29 to be pressed closer together so that the shoulders 31 may be drawn past the abutments.

Once the shoulders 31 have been drawn past the abutments by further opening of the door 21, the door then continues freely as the frictional drag no longer exists. This is true because the portion 32 of the element beyond the slot 28 is narrower than the opening 36. In other words, once the door 21 has been moved outwardly to draw the shoulders 31 past the abutments 37 the door moves substantially unretarded to the extreme position shown in FIGURE 11.

The element 22 may be made of any springy material desired, but is preferably made of a synthetic plastic such as nylon.

Having described my invention as related to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, it is my intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description, unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claim.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows:

In a cabinet having a hinged closure movable between open and closed positions about a hinged axis and an aperture having aperture sides adjacent said closure in its closed position, a check limiting and regulating movement of said closure comprising: an elongated synthetic plastic element located in said aperture having one end pivotally attached to said closure remote from the hinged axis of said closure; a first stop on the other end of said elongated element engageable with said cabinet portion defining said aperture to limit movement of said closure to its fully open position; a second stop intermediate said ends of said elongated element to provide an intermediate stop position for said closure between said open and closed positions, said second stop comprising a pair of contoured shoulders on opposite sides of said element; and means defining an elongated slot in said elongated member extending from said pivoted end of said elongated element past said second stop to provide a pair of laterally yieldable members engageable with the sides of said aperture, said yieldable members having intermediate side portions of substantially convex configuration to provide frictional interference between said yieldable members and said sides of said aperture when the closure is moved between the closed and said second stop position, and said closure being movable past said second stop position to said first stop position on distortion of said laterally yieldable members toward each other, said clo sure being movable past the said second stop position on the application of a force on the closure in the opening direction whereby the said laterally yieldable members are distorted toward each other until said shoulders clear said aperture.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Examiner. 

